26 Letter (Letter 25 was not numbered)
Lawrence Aug 25 1856 Dear Parents,

Your letters of July 27 & Aug 10 are both before me and though the time that I know spend to answer them must be stolen from other duties yet I believe [word first spelled ‘beleive’ and corrected to ‘ie’] I will do it. In Mothers letter of July she says “your letters are quite proper to read after I have dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s”. Now, Mother, if I did not think more of your letters that I look after mistakes in them I should have something to tell you about such things, for in the letters now before me, in them are a number of palpable mistakes so plain that I, who do not pretend to any knowledge of grammar can see them. Next, you speak of the contributions, etc. I dont see why Hopkinton should not contribute to me directly to pay me what I have laid out in the Kansas wars for unless I get my 180 dollars directly from the State I never shall get it, but if you did not contribute to me alone, I can help many that I know of that are very poor. There are two families, near neighbors to me, who have very hard work to get enough to live on. They are brothers and they have a span of horses which they use and let be used for the Free State cause a great deal, and they do themselves. Besides one of those men had no flour or milk, or butter or sugar all last winter, but lived on Corn Cake and molasses & coffee. And the other was but little better off for food and not quite as well off for a house. They now have hardly decent clothing enough to wear and none fit to wear to meeting. I know personally many just such families that need actually both clothing and food. Most however just at this time have garden sauce to eat so that starvation does not stare them in the face. I have given much myself from my slender means to those who have been unfortunate or are very poor. I have a number of cases in my mind that I intended to write but I have not time. This last I have just written would do to read in you Soc. These words occur in your letter. “ Miss Paine & her Cousin visited here Sat. & from her account one would think she was in the Inquisition.” Who is Miss Paine and where was she when in the Inquisition? I don’t know who or what you mean.

So much for that letter.

In Father’s letter of the same time he speaks of my settling with Wood. I suppose you know now how I have settled but you dont say a word about it. What do you think of it?

Stowell was to bring Muzzy a Rifle or Revolver & fifty dollars which his Father sent him and was to bring me a Rifle or Revolver. He had stopped at a new town they have made fifteen miles this side of Nebraska line and has kept the arms there with him except Muzzy’ Rifle which he sent by Eddridge. I want the arms every day as we don’t know what day we shall have to fight now. The Revolver Dr sent ought to be here now but I have heard nothing from it yet. What was the man’s given name that had it? Now for the letter of Aug 10. In regard to my sickness I will say that I was not very sick after all being able to sit up most of the time. I might say all. I had a first rate nurse in the person of a young Lady who wrote that part of the letter which I did not, and my apartment was my own house where she lives. She took the best of care of me, read to me, and did everything to make me comfortable. Her name is Sarah Wilmarth. (She knew Anna Herrick and heard of her death just before I got your letter.) There are skilful Physicians here that I have confidence in that I might have had if I had wanted, but I dont believe in doctors you know. I was packed once, and should have been again if I had too much fever.

I had not before heard of John Wheelers movements and he has not got here yet, although I can expect him today as some of Lane’s men are expected in from Topeka today. How & for what has Maritta Phipps gone to Europe? I am sorry to hear that Father’s health is so poor. You must not worry about me and make yourself sick that way. We think here that you at the East worry more about us than we do for ourselves. We see danger and prepare for it but dont worry much. The Topeka boys have just got in and Wheeler is not with them. There is a young man by name of Ross who came through Iowa with them and he says that he is probably in the North part of the Ter. yet near Nebraska but the men from that quarter have been sent for and he will probably come with them. Who is Jim Allen & who did he marry?

I wish you could have some of the melons that we have here at Mr Savages where I stay. We almost always have two and sometimes three kinds of melons with every meal. I helped eat six or seven yesterday.

You ask ‘how are your Sabbaths spent’. I have sometimes thought of writing an account of some Sabbaths that I have spent to show you but want of time has and probably will prevent. Yesterday Capt Shombre’s funeral sermon was preached. He was mortally wounded in the attack on Titus Fort a week ago Sat. and died a week ago this morning. He was buried with military honours last Tues. afternoon. The text was “I go the way of all the Earth. Be strong, therefore, and show thyself a man.” I Kings 2nd Chap 2 verse. These words might well be applied to Capt. S. as he was a Christian of long standing and freely gave up his life for the cause of Liberty. Mr Nute gave notice that he should, next Sabbath, preach the Funeral sermon of his Brother-in-law, who was murdered on his way to Leavenworth a week ago today. He remarked that three men had, within a little more than a week, gone out of his house to their death; vis, his brother-in-law, Mr Hopps, Mr Jennison & Major [David S.] Hoyt, who was killed at Washington Creek and for the particulars of whose murder see in sheet which I have written and sent to Whittemore. He will give it to you in a few days. It is written for you to read to anyone that wants to know facts as they occur here. It is not written well at all for I am, or was, much excited at the time yet it is a true account of things. A week ago Sun was spent in trying to negotiate for a change of prisoners and in cheering Fremont [[MS. illegible]] arms etc. We had a short meeting yesterday P.M. in the Hospital for the benefit of the wounded. They are all getting along well I believe. There is not one bit of inflammation in any of the wounds owing to the judicious use of water, which is used very plentyfully. Mr Jennison was sent to Kansas City after lumber and was waylaid and killed on his way back here. The particulars I do not know. We are very short of provisions, that is bread stuff, in town now. No flour to be had anywhere in the city at all. I have, or we, used the last flour last week and dont know when we can get any more. I told Sarah what your letter said about the one who took care of me when sick writing every week and told her she must write now to make up, but I guess she will not. I have been sick with the toothache almost all the last week. They have troubled me a great deal. I did not sleep for two or three nights. It dont seem to be confined to one tooth but changes all around and my whole jaw is sore and lame. Do you have any apples this year? I have eaten two so far I believe. Are there any peaches? Mr Savage & I picked a lot of elderberries and we use them for puddings and pies just as you do Whortleberries and they almost take their place. Plums we have lots of. They grow wild in abundance.

I was in my cornfield day before yesterday. The corn now looks as though I should have something of a crop, perhaps 75 or 80 bush. of corn and lots of pumpkins. My share of the field has cost me about 20 dollars thus far and I have got to harvest it. If I had the money to get the seed I think I should sow a little fall wheat on my claim. I shall have some on Mr Savages claim next spring at any rate.